Lookin' Out My Back Door by Steve Beckelhimer

GigaPan Epic 100

Having just purchased some new GigaPan equipment, I couldn’t wait to try it out. My new GigaPan Epic 100 (gigapansystems.com/gigapan-products/epic-100-product-page.html ) has a Canon SX20-IS (reviews.usa.canon.com/3798/19208/powershot-sx20-is-reviews/reviews.htm ) mounted on it. Unlike many point and shoot cameras, the SX20 IS has a manual exposure mode allowing both the shutter speed and aperture to be set. The camera also has an easy to use manual focus mode. There is a focus bracketing function that I am anxious to try, especially since the GigaPan Epic 100 has a multiple exposures function in the setup menu. The camera’s 20X optical zoom seemed to make it perfect for GigaPan use.
Although the late fall light was fading in the evening, I wanted to get a quick shot to try things out. I set the GigaPan equipment up on my second story deck (out my back door) and shot the woodlot behind my house. My wife’s flower garden is visible in the foreground although everything is dormant this time of year. Stacks of firewood stand at the ready for providing warmth against the coming cold of winter. The canoe in the background will weather another cover of snow before providing pleasurable paddling on one of the nearby lakes or streams.
The photo’s title Lookin’ Out My Back Door is not only a description of the photo location but an homage to a great old song by one of my favorite 1960s bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival (www.creedence-revisited.com /). Their 1970 hit, Lookin’ Out My Back Boor (www.amazon.com/Lookin-Out-My-Back-Door/dp/B00271VH5C/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1321018100&sr=1-3 ) from the Cosmo’s Factory Album (www.amazon.com/Cosmos-Factory-Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/dp/B001AKTZOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1321018020&sr=1-1 ) was one of John Fogerty (www.johnfogerty.com/default.aspx ) and company’s better singles.